Loose-leaf binder



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,373

. J. L. M MILLAN LOOS E LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 24, 1925 W1 bdz efO/tll [I all- M 11/1112 (lbw lamp,

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNI TE D TA T ES JOHN L. MGMIIZLAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

LOOSE-DEAF BINDER.

Application filed December 24, 1925. Serial No. 77.565.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders of that type in which tthe sheets to be bound are threaded orstrung upon links bridging the b-aek.1nen1berofthe binder, said links 5 being held at their ends by pintles carried by slidcsor bars movable longitudinally 1n housings on the coversboards, to eifect engagement or disengagement of the links.

The inventionconsists-in novel meansfoi H locking the pintle-carrying slides against longitudinal movement when their pintles are in engagement with the sheet-carrying links.

Theronstruction :here set forth is one of several embodiments ofa generic invention, other types of which will be disclosed and claimed in separate applications for patent.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure -1 is-=a perspective view of a binder 2" equipped with my ilocking mechanism, the cover-boards being thrownopen to show the general appearance and arrangement of parts;

E'g. 2 is a partially sectional fragmentary view of a sheet'carrying link, a pintle slide,

a housing for the slide and lock, and the lock seated within the housing;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the housing with the look therein;

Fig. '4; is a transverse sectional view ofthe lock- Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof the lock, its key, and a portion of a pintle rod, the lock being shown in longitudinal section.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the lock reversed as related to Figs. 3 and 4, such being its position when the binder rests upon the back member in position for opening the cover boards.

One purpose of the present invention to provide locking means which shall be carried wholly within the metallic housings of :the pintle slides, thus avoiding the somewhatunsightly and inconvenient placing of the lock shells or casings in or upon the cover boards, and ensuring a more secure and dependable locking of the slides. In the present instance each housing is furnished with a lock for its own pintle slide, the lock remaining permanently in the housing, and means being provided for effecting engagement and disengagement between each slide and its lock, when occasion arises.

Any suitable form or type of lock may be employed, though I prefer and have illustrated one of the Corbin or Yale flat key type, which is at once compact, strong, and

diflicult to pick or unlock without its specially designed key.

Referring again to the drawings, A designates the cover of the binder, comprising a back member 1 and cover boards 2 and 3 hinged or flexibly joined to the back member in anyusual manner. 4 and 5 designate metallic housings, applied respectively to the cover boards 2 and 3, at or near the hinge or flexible connection with the back member 1. Each housing, in the form and construction here illustrated. is conveniently made by folding or bending a sheet metal blank lon gitudinally, at or near its midwidth, the bend being approximately circular in cross sec-- tion, and the portions of=the blank-extending thence to its free longitudinal edges *being spaced a short distance apart and brought parallel to each other, as seen in Fig. 3. At. one end and for a short distance, thecircular fold or edge 6 of the housing :is'enlarged to form a lock-containing shell or chamber 7 as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, where the lock 8 is shown seated in the shell 7.

For the purpose of stiffening the housing and preventing its bending or buckling transversely, as well as to form a spacing rib or member for its two leaves or portions, and to form a bearing or guiding face for one edge of the pintle slide later described, one leaf or portion of the housing is provided with a trough-like corrugation or inturned rib 9, one wall of which serves also as a gage or stop for the inner edge of one of the cover boards 2, 3, which is inserted between the two parallel leaves of the housing and there secured by any usual or suitable fastenings, such as rivets. spurs, or the like.

Each housing is provided with two or more openings 10 formed in the rounded or cylindrical fold thereof, those of the two housings being equally spaced, and directly opposite or .in alinement, to receive opposite ends of sheet or leaf-carrying links 11 which bridge the back member at intervals, support the sheets, and hold the back member against undue spreading. Each end of the several links is provided with a transverse eye or opening 12 to receive a pintle 13 of a slide 14 movable longitudinally within the respective housings which they fit somewhat closely at the folded or tubular side.

The pintle slides 14 are duplicates, and a description of one will suflice for both. As shown in the drawing and as preferably used, each slide consists of a flat bar of steel, iron, or other suitable metal, rolled, forged, or otherwise formed with one thickened longitudinal edge of substantially cylindrical cross section, and of a diameter somewhat greater than the thickness of the body of the bar in the remaining portions, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. This, however, is not essential, but facilitates the formation of the pintles 13 and end extension 15, which as shown are cylindrical in cross section to conform to the cylindrical portion 6 of the housing in which they move.

At suitable points in the length of each slide, the head or cylindrical back edge is cut away for a space slightly greater than the length of the openings 10 of the housings, to permit entrance of an end of one of the links 11, and to a depth sufiicient to cause the eye 12 of the link to come into alinement with the pintle 13, as in Fig. 2, said cutting being extended longitudinally to the base of the pintle, as shown. The number of links, openings and pintles may vary according to the dimensions of the binder, and the number and weight of leaves to be employed.

The extension 15 of the pintle slide 1 1 terminates in a conical head or end 16, be-

" tween which and the main body of the exfill tension is formed a circumferential groove or channel 17. The conical head 16 is cut away or longitudinally grooved at diametrically opposite sides, as seen in Figs. 2 and The lock 8 is of the usual construction of locks of the Corbin or Yale type, comprising a cylindrical case having a radial extension 8*, and a rotatable cylinder 18 fitting closely within and concentric with the shell and having a longitudinal slot or keyway 19. A series of holes drilled radially into the cylinder 18, of diameter greater than the width of the slot or keyway 19, receive cylindrical studs or pins 20 which aline with and abut end to end against similar pins or tumblers 21 seated in holes drilled in the radial extension 8 of the lock case, and urged outward therefrom by helical springs 22 against which their inner ends abut, all as shown in Fig. 5. The pins 20 bridge the slot or keyway 19, and they bottom in the holes drilled to receive them, and when so bottomed their outer ends fall within the circumference of cylinder 18, or within the meeting line of the cylinder and its shell, to which position they are forced by the tumblers 21 pressed by the springs 22. The tumblers hence normally extend across the meeting line of the cylinder and its shell, and stand partly in each, thus precluding rotation of said cylinder and consequently any unlocking of the lock, until by insertion of a key having suitable elevations or camming surfaces on its edge, the respective pins 20 are moved radially outward, and in turn force back the tumblers 21 until the abutting end of pins and tumblers are brought into alinemcnt with the meeting line of cylinder 18 and its case. hen this 1effected the cylinder may be turned by the Key.

Engagement between the lock cylinder and the end extension 15 of the pintle slide is effected by two books or dogs 23 carried by and projecting from the inner end of lock cylinder 18, and here shown as pivoted in the slotted inner end of the cylinder and urged toward each other at their hookbearing ends by a suitable spring 24. This pivoting of the hooks is not essential, but is for the purpose of enabling the conical end 16 of slide extension 15 to enter between the hooks in any position of cylinder 18, and whether the key be in its seat or withdrawn therefrom.

Books of this character are largely used in banks, and as minute or record books of corporations and organizations of various kinds, and the sheets or leaves are written or typewritten from day to day, or after meetings, as matters require to be entered or recorded. Such records are made either in manuscript or in typewriting, both of which may best be done where the sheets or leaves can be handled separately and apart from the hinder, the key or keys being placed in the custody of an officer, and the writing or printing of the record being commonly made by another person. It is hence desirable that the custodian of the key or keys be enabled to unlock the binder and remove the key, permitting leaves to be removed, written upon, and replaced, or new leaves to be added, and that the person writing or printing the record be enabled thus to remove, replace or add leaves, and there after to lock the binder without the aid of any key or keys. It is for this reason that the pivoted and spring-pressed hooks or dogs 23 are provided.

It will be noted upon referring to Figs. 2 and 5 that the keyway 19, and hooks 23 are in common plane, and that when the cylinder 18 is in its locking or locked position, Fig. 5, this plane is that of the pintle slide 14 also, hence the books 23 are in plane with the full or uncut portions of conical head 16 of said slide. If, therefore, the pintle slide be moved longitudinally toward lock 8, the conical head 16 will enter between the hooks 23, force them apart, ride beyond the hooks, and be engaged thereby since the books will, under the pressure of spring 2%, be moved inward toward each other, entering the groove or channel 17 and engaging the full portions of the base of conical head 16. As such engagement occurs while the cylinder 18 is locked against rotation, and since the pintle slide is guided and held by its housing so that extension 15 cannot turn or move relatively to the hooks23, said parts cannot'be disconnected except by inserting the key, releasing cylinder 18, turning the key torotate the cylinder, and thereby bringing the hooks 23 into alinement withthe groovedor cut-away sides of conical head 16 thus freeing the conical head and permitting the pintle slide to be moved in,a direction to withdraw its pintles from links 11. This done, one end of all the links will be freed toswing a way from the housing at their released ends, and sheets or leaves may he removed, replaced, or added to atwill.

The person making the entries or record having f nished the work and placed all sheets or leaves in proper order in the hinder, the links are replaced in the operr ings 10 of the housing, the pintle slide s moved longitudinally toward the look until the hooks engage the ,conical head 16. and the binder is securely locked though the key has meanwhile remained in the keeping of its roper custodian.

In t is way the keeper of the key can unlock the binder and leave it in the care of a trusted clerk or assistant for proper making of entries, and such clerk or assistant can per form the work and lock the binder without detaining the custodian of the key, or need ing the key.

The pintle slide is furnished as usual with a button or thumb-piece 25, Fig. 1, by which to move it longitudinally.

It is obvious that the interlocking head 16 and the hooks 23 may be transposed, the hooks being carried by the slide and the cone being formed upon the rotatable cylinder 18. As this is mere reversal of parts without change of function it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate it.

While I have shown and prefer to employ two hooks 23, more or fewer may be used, the conical head 16 being provided with corresponding grooves or channels, and the claims are to be read with this understand- In practice I prefer to provide a housing with its contained parts for both ends or the links, though this is not essential. If but one be provided the opposite end of each link will be pivoted in any convenient way to the proximate binder board or cover board.

What I claim is 1. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, the combination of a housing having a hollow longitudinal edge of substantially cylindrical cross section enlarged at one end to receive a lock, and provided at intervals with openings in said cylindrical edge for the introduction of leaf-carrying links; links provided with transverse openings near their ends to receive pintles; a pintle-bearing slide longitudinally movable in the housing;a .loek mounted inthe enlarged end of the housing; and means for connecting and disconnecting the pintle slide (and the lock, to prevent longitudinal movement of said slide.

.2. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, the combination of a housingihav.- ing a hollow longitudinal edge of substantially cylindrical cross section enlarged at one end to receive a lock, and provided at I intervals with openingsin said edge oi-the introduction of leaf-carrying links; a pintle bearing slide movable in said housing; links extending through said openings'into the housing and provided with transverse openingsto receive the pintles; ,a lock seated within the enlarged end of .the housing; a rotatable cylinder forming part of said lock; and means whereby the pintle slide and said cylinder may be engaged with and disengaged from each other.

3. Ina loose leaf binder of the character described, the combination of a housing having a hollow longitudinal edge of substantially cylindrical cross section enlarged at one end to receive a lock, and provided at intervals with openings in said edge for the introduction of leaf-carrying links; a pintle-bearing slide longitudinally movable in said housing; leaf-carrying links extending into the housing through the openings therein and having eyes to receive the pintles of said slide; a lock mounted in the enlarged end of said housing and having a rotatable cylinder; and interlocking parts carried by the rotatable cylinder and the pintle slide respectively, capable of engagement and disengagement by turning said cylinder, whereby the pintle slide may be positively engaged with the rotatable cylinder and thus held against movement in link-releasing direction, and disengaged therefrom for linkreleasing movement by reverse rotation of said cylinder.

4. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, the combination of a housing having a hollow longitudinal edge of substantially cylindrical cross section enlarged at one end to receive a lock, and provided at intervals with openings in said edge for the introduction of leaf-carrying links; a pintle-bearing slide movable within said housing; leaf-carrying links extending into the housing through the openings therein and having eyes to receive the pintles of said slide; a lock mounted in the enlarged end of said housing and having a rotatable cylinder; tumblers serving normally to engage and prevent rotation of said cylinder but operable by insertion of a proper key to release the cylinder; and interlocking parts carried by the rotatable cylinder and the slide respectively, adapted to engage one with the other when said cylinder is turned to locking position and to be disengaged when the cylinder is rotated in the reverse direction.

5. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, the combination of a housing having a hollow longitudinal edge of substantially cylindrical cross section enlarged at one end to receive a lock, and provided at intervals with openings in said edge for the introduction of leaf-carrying links; a pintle-bearing slide longitudinally movable Within said housing; leaf-carrying links extending into the housing through the openings therein and having eyes to receive the pintles of said slide; a lock mounted in the enlarged end of said housing and having a rotatable cylinder; and interlocking parts carried by the slide and cylinder respectively, capable of entering freely into engagement when said cylinder is in locked position and the pintle slide is moved a proper distance toward the rotatable cylinder, but incapable of disengagement while the cylinder remains in such locking position.

6. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, the combination of a housing having a hollow longitudinal edge of substantially cylindrical cross section enlarged at one end to receive a lock and provided at intervals with openings in said edge for the introduction of leaf-carrying links; a pintle-bearing slide movable within said housing; leafcarrying links extending into the housing through the openings therein and having eyes to receive the pintles of said slide; a lock mounted in the enlarged end of the housing and having a rotatable cylinder; interlocking parts carried by the rotatable cylinder and the slide respectively; tumblers serving normally to engage and prevent rotation of said cylinder but operable by insertion of a proper key to release the cylinder and permit rotation thereof, and thus to effect disengagement of the slide and cylinder one from the other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN L. MoMILLAN. 

